2017 FloXC Countdown

2017 FloXC Countdown: #21 Georgetown Men

2017 FloXC Countdown: #21 Georgetown Men

The No. 21 men's spot in our FloXC Countdown goes to Georgetown this year, and here's why.

Aug 25, 2017 by Harry Prevor .
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Follow our 2017 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 25 cross country teams and individuals in the NCAA this season which will be LIVE on FloTrack. The No. 21 men's spot goes to Georgetown, and here's why:

Probable Top Three:

SR Jonathan Green (4:04 Mile; 8:08 3K; 13:45 5K; 29:06 10K; 5th at '15 NCAA XC)
SR Amos Bartelsmeyer (3:58 Mile; 7:57 3K; 14:04 5K; 128th at '15 NCAA XC)
SO Jack Van Scoter (4:05 Mile; 8:10 3K; 14:24 5K; 211th at '16 NCAA XC)

Fourth & Fifth Man Battle:

SO Matthew Bouthillette (3:56 1500; 14:35 5K; 9:20 3K SC; 239th at '16 NCAA XC)
SO Spencer Brown (1:49.3 800; 3:45 1500; 244th at '16 NCAA XC)
SO Charles Cooper (1:49.8 800; 4:04 Mile)
JR Michael Crozier (14:28 5K; 29:32 10K)
JR Nicholas Golebiowski (4:08 Mile; 14:38 5K; 30:15 10K)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Ty Brownlow via Liverpool, NY (9:18 3200; 15:26 5K XC; 14th at '16 NXN)
Seth Eliason via Minnetonka, MN (9:07 3200; 14:54 5K XC; 37th at '16 NXN)

Analysis:

Led by head coaches Julie Culley and Brandon Bonsey, the Hoyas look to be primed to make up for a rocky 2016 season that saw them finish 21st at NCAAs despite a high pre-season ranking.

Ironically, much of the reason why Georgetown didn't live up to expectations last year will be exactly why they have every reason to be excited in 2017. The two biggest threats on the Hoyas' XC squad this year are both fifth-year seniors that redshirted during 2016 for one extra season of eligibility -- Jonathan Green and Amos Bartelsmeyer. Green knows what it's like to be on a top-ten team: his tremendous fifth-place finish at 2015 NCAA XC nationals led the team to a tenth-place finish, and he's only continued to improve on the track since then with a 13:45 PR in the indoor 5K this year. Bartelsmeyer placed 128th in that '15 NCAA XC race, and he's set impressive middle-distance PRs of 3:58 (mile) and 7:57 (3K) since then.

Their top returner in Jack Van Scoter was 211th as just a freshman at last year's NCAAs, and he'll be looking to reclaim his spot on the top five despite the return of the redshirt senior talents. But behind him there's a whole host of kids who could step up and score big points, including redshirt freshman Jack Salisbury, who despite being of Penn Relays infamy had an excellent high school career that saw him end up with a 4:08 mile PR and Adidas Dream Mile championship under his belt. The other redshirt freshman that will be looking to make the biggest splash would be Eion Nohilly, son of famed track coach (and two-time Olympic Trials fourth-placer) Tom Nohilly, who was a 2K steeplechase national champion in high school and held a 4:14 mile PR.

There are also two true freshmen in Ty Brownlow and Seth Eliason who may contribute during the '17 XC season according to the coaching staff. Both had stellar XC seasons their senior years of high school that saw them eventually meet at 2016 Nike Cross Nationals, and though Eliason held the better PR with his 14:54 XC 5K from earlier in the season, Brownlow had the better NXN finish with his 14th-place showing.

Two other members of the 2016 NCAA squad return and will be looking to contribute in sophomores Spencer Brown and Matthew Bouthillette. Despite their varied track backgrounds, the duo finished close together in 239th and 244th at '16 NCAAs, and they'll need to continue to work together to contribute team points in 2017. One other talent who will have one last year to prove himself is Michael Crozier, who has been granted a sixth year of cross country due to a redshirt injury year and holds the second-best track 10K PR on the team with his 29:32 mark from 2016.

With boundless talent and impressive redshirt freshman and senior classes, a huge improvement on their 2016 NCAA showing could be in the cards for the Hoyas.

FULL MEN'S RANKINGS HERE